Closure for collapsible tubes



June 19, 1934. A, -r 1,963,870

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Sept. 15, 1932 Zmnentor Gttomeg Patented June 19, 1934 i I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Alexander A. Scott, Knoxville, Tenn.

Application September 15, 1932, Serial No. 633,358

3 Claims. (Cl'. 22160) My invention relates to an improvement in a tube is closed, and which will assume the position closure for a collapsible tube. shown in Fig. 4 when open to connect the open- The purpose of my invention is to provide a ing through the stem 4 of the tube to a point closure for collapsible tubes which may be readily outside of the closure 6. I I w 5 operated with one hand to open and close the At the end of the hole 14 which is remote from so tube and without removing the closure from the the stem 4 of the tube 2, when the closure 6 is tube. in the 'open position, shown in Fig. 4, I provide A further object of my invention is to provide a cut-away portion 16, so that the end of the a tube closure which will leave no surfaces which hole 14 and adjacent surfaces will not come into will be exposed to collect paste, dust or dirt, contact with the surface of the semi-cylindrical whenthe closure is in a closed position. This seat 8 when the closure is opened and closed, as provides a closure which when closed keeps the shown in Fig. 2. material in the tube entirely sanitary. On a part of the circular disc 10, which is nor- A further object of my invention is to provide mally within the curved seat 8, I provide a cork its an interchangeable tube closure which may be or similar gasket 20, for bearing upon and mak- 7 afiixed to an ordinary collapsible tube. ing a close contact with the semi-cylindrical seat In the accompanying drawing: 8. The disc 10 is cut-away as at 22 to provide 1 i a p p v vi w of my tube closur a surface or seat for the cork gasket 20. This 2 is a front elevation p y in s cti surface 22 may be serrated, if desired, to enhance 26 showing the disk in a closed position; the flexibility of the gasket and secure a more Fig. 3 is a similar view at right angles thereto; uniform frictional contact thereof.

4 is a front elevation pa y in section At one end of the cut-out portion 16, I form showing t d s in r111 p position; a stop 24 which extends radially sufiiciently far 5 s a disassembled P pective view showto engage the closure 6 at one end of the seat 8 25" ing the c e s a d a when the disc 10 is turned in one direction and 8 6 is a sectional V Of a d fi d f thereby limit the turning movement of the disk of my device; and in that direction, and a second stop 26 is provided '7 is a perspect v V w Of he s s OW- at an end of the finger cavity 12 to engage the ing a slight modification. opposite end of the seat 8 and limit the turning 39- The u ual eo p u 2 is p d t movement of the disc in that direction. By these he a y threaded stem With an Opening stops I am enabled to provide stops so that the t ret d to Which y t C u e 6 circular disc 10 may be turned only through the may b atta d. The su 6 i p v d d w th required number of degrees relative to the cloa threaded P01111011 to be screwed Onto the stem sure 6, or changed from the closed position as 35- 4, a d an ifice 7 exte ds upwardly through shown in Fig. 2 to the open position, as shown the closure in position to register with the openi Fi 4, or vice-versa.

ing through the stem when the closure is screwed In the modified form, shown in Fig. 7, I have thereon. utilized the same construction as described above The tube Closure 6 is Provided W a ve with the exception that the disc 10 has serrations 40- seat 8, which is provided with a substantially 12 on the periphery thereof instead of the cavsemi-circular concave surface or seat communiity 12, and by which the disc is turned,

eating at its lower side with the orifice 7. The While I have not disclosed in Figs, 1 to 5 of closure operating di k 1 is ul r in f rm, s the drawing a form of my closure for collapsible that it may be seated within the semi-cylindrical tubes, which is made integral with the tube, it

'45 seat 8, and is secured therein by th pivot pin 18, will be understood that such a modification of my 109 or trunnions 18 between the disk 10 and the clo ure would not require any more change than sides of the closure 6 as shOWn in and the omission of the screw-threads which are a n either eve allowing approximately nea f part of the conventional form of collapsible tube thereof to be exposed. opening, for in making my closure integral with 50 n t e upp 0 Outer d of e d sc 10, I the collapsible tube, it will only be necessary to .105 provide a finger cavity 12, which facilitates the provide the semi-cylindrical seat 8 instead of operation of the disc. The disc 10 is provided screw-threads when forming the collapsible with a hole 14, extending through the lower portubes, as shown in Fig. 6. tion thereof in a position of a secant which will It is within my knowledge that innumerable at- "5 5 be in the position shown in Fig. 2 when the tempts in making sanitary and efficient tube 010- no sures have been made, but, as far as I am aware, none of these closures have been satisfactory, either because the closure was so constructed that a portion of the tube contents would remain on the outside of the closure after the same was closed or because when the closure was opened, a portion thereof would smear along some normally exposed surface, thereby contaminating the portion of the closure which at all times should be kept in a sanitary condition, in the event that the closure is to be used for a tube of tooth-paste, shaving-cream, or the like. By the use of my tube closure, I am enabled to avoid these difficulties and provide a closure which at all times remains clean, in a sanitary condition, and conveniently operated with one and the same hand holding the tube.

I claim:

1. A closure adapted to be afiixed to the mouth of a collapsible tube, said closure having a semicylindrical seat therein and provided with an orifice establishing communication between the seat and the mouth of the tube, a closure-operating disk corresponding in shape with and fitted to turn in said seat, the disk provided with a hole in the position of a secant for registry with the orifice when the device is in its open position with a gasket interposed between the disk and seat for making a close contact between the seat and disk.

2. A closure adapted to be removably attached to the mouth of a collapsible tube, said closure having a semi-spherical seat with opposed parallel walls and provided with an orifice establishing communication between the interior of said tube and said seat, and a disk having a cylindrical portion fitted to the seat and side walls and adapted to turn thereagainst, means for pivoting the disk in position with respect to the seat and side walls so that a portion is enclosed by the side walls and the remaining portion protrudes beyond the side walls to provide means for turning the disk back and forth, the disk having a hole extending therethrough in the position of a secant.

3. A closure adapted to be removably attached to the mouth of a collapsible tube, said closure having a semi-spherical seat with opposed parallel walls and provided with an orifice establishing communication between the interior of said tube and said seat, and a disk having a cylindrical portion fitted to the seat and side walls and adapted to turn thereagainst, means for pivoting the disk in position with respect to the seat and side walls so that a portion is, enclosedg'by the side walls and the remaining portion protrudes beyond the side walls to provide means for turning the disk back and forth, the disk having a hole extending therethrough in the position of a secant, the disk having means on the protruding portion for limiting the turning movement in both directions. I v,

ALEXANDER A. SCOTT. 

